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A UNIQUE BACHELOR IN BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
The study plan for the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences at IE University has been designed with academic expertise at its core, using our academic faculty’s expert knowledge and the strong links between IE University and the professional world.
The Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences gives ambitious individuals the appropriate skillset to become professionals capable of solving real-world challenges. Through our hands-on teaching methodology, you’ll find the perfect balance between what is studied throughout your degree and the projects you embark on, which are based on real-world scenarios. This will enable you to develop a future-proofed profile, and able to adapt to the world of work when you graduate in four years.
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BACHELOR IN BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDY PLAN
OFFICIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
FACT SHEET: official ECTS credits and university degree registration
PROGRAM
Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGE
English
CENTRES OF STUDY AND NUMBER OF PLACES
Centro de Estudios Superiores IE (Madrid) – 60 places
Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y de Comunicación (Segovia) – 60 places
CREDITS
Total number of credits: 240 ECTS*
Distribution of credits and subjects**:
Core subjects – 60 ECTS
Mandatory subjects – 120 ECTS
Elective subjects – 48 ECTS
Final Project – 12 ECTS
AREA OF KNOWLEDGE
Social Sciences, Social Work, Labour Relations and Human Resources, Sociology, Political Science and International Relations
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Face-to-face
SPANISH MINISTRY’S REGISTRY OF UNIVERSITIES, CENTRES AND DEGREES
ASSURANCE AGENCY
ACSUCYL*** – Buscador Títulos Oficiales
*European Credit Transfer System
**The character of the subjects is defined by the Spanish legislation
***Quality Assurance Agency for the University System in Castilla y León
Professional Core Competences in Behavior and Social Science
Basic competences
GENERAL COMPETENCES
- Understand human behavior from a psychological viewpoint and how knowledge of other relevant social science disciplines (anthropology, sociology, political science, economics, law and business) helps in understanding the different facets of human behavior.
- Understand the main analysis methods and how to apply them to better understand human behavior.
- Understand the workings of current social issues and their main trends, as well as those most relevant to the student’s professional future.
- Use the multidisciplinary knowledge acquired to analyze and evaluate relevant questions, situations and issues.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC COMPETENCES
- Use the scientific and theoretical foundations of psychology to understand human behavior.
- Analyze sociological phenomena and their relationship to behavior.
- Apply anthropological tools to develop a better understanding of behavior through observation.
- Analyze different forms of political organization and evaluate how they affect behavior.
- Analyze the principles of the legal system in order to evaluate its effect on human behavior.
- Evaluate the interaction between the economy, psychology and the impact that the latter has on irrational economic decision-making.
- Understand the psychological basis of consumer decisions in a market context.
- Analyze different types of data and be capable of explaining and conveying their implications to others in order to improve decision-making.
- Apply quantitative and qualitative analytical methods.
- Develop professional competences applicable to individual and group settings.
- Identify the greatest challenges and opportunities in an area of general interest or a business function.
- Interact with clients eloquently and professionally.
- Complete a Capstone Project that applies the knowledge and analysis methods learned.
- Analyze the latest trends in terms of their content and application in the field.
TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCES
- Identify the main cultural identity traits that characterize today’s world by understanding the main contemporary ideological trends.
- Behave professionally in accordance with the core principles and ethics of the profession.
- Manage unforeseen situations by being able to adapt to organizational changes.
- Form a part of interdisciplinary and multicultural teams to achieve shared goals in a diverse environment.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
FIRST YEAR - FOUNDATION YEAR
Year one is an introductory phase, focused on gaining a foundation in the social sciences. You will learn essential skills for becoming a behavioral scientist, such as team working and collaboration, as well as learning to observe, experiment and survey. You’ll get a thorough grounding in research methods and how they can be applied to solve problems related to social science, technology or human behavior, giving you a strong base for future years.
SECOND YEAR – ADVANCED FOUNDATION
In year two, you’ll study topics such as the psychology of cognition and emotion, leadership and influence, and be introduced to economics. You’ll broaden your knowledge of social science with a focus on psychology, anthropology, law and economics, as well as learning how to apply team working through leadership and influence. You’ll acquire extensive quantitative and qualitative tools to help you establish your analytical toolbox. Through this study you will have a broad set of knowledge and skills which you can develop into more niche areas in year three.
THIRD YEAR - PROFICIENCY
During year three, you will explore advanced topics related to behavior, including behavior and the brain, behavioral economics and decision-making, and UX/UI design. You’ll discover how to have a positive impact on people and organizations as you learn how to influence, persuade and bring about real change on an individual, organizational and social level. In this year you will have the choice to go on university exchange, do a company internship, or study elective courses.
FOURTH YEAR - SPECIALIZED TOPICS & CAREER PREPARATION
The final year prepares you to enter into the professional working world. You’ll cover specialized topics such as design thinking, brainstorming and creativity, behavior design and leading change in organizations. You will choose between two tracks, Human-Centered Consulting or Marketing & Talent Strategist. You’ll also develop and present your final Capstone Project, which will represent a culmination of everything you have learned throughout the program.
Tracks
Our Tracks are immersive, fast-paced learning journeys designed to take you beyond theory and into real-world application. Through a series of interconnected courses, you’ll work on practical challenges, collaborate with real companies, using the same AI tools used in the industry today—ensuring you graduate not just with knowledge, but with experience that sets you apart.
HUMAN-CENTERED CONSULTING TRACK
HUMAN-CENTERED CONSULTING TRACK
Step into the role of a consultant and tackle real business challenges. Apply your understanding of behavioral sciences to deliver solutions for actual clients, while building a powerful consulting toolkit. You’ll learn how to frame complex problems, manage stakeholders effectively, and design and test business experiments inside real organizations.
IS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE…
Comfortable with quantitative analysis and want to explore how people interact with products and services, experimenting with designs and experiences that change their behaviors; looking to leverage the knowledge hidden in data to tackle real business challenges.
Looking for...
A hands-on consulting experience where you’ll learn to frame business problems, manage stakeholders, and design and run experiments that drive impact —building a practical toolkit that sets you apart from traditional business graduates. You'll gain advanced understanding of quantitative methods and behavioral science, and how they can be applied to make products and services more appealing.
To become a...
- Customer experience designer
- Behavioral scientist
- Business analyst
- Product manager
- Customer insights analyst
- Market researcher
MARKETING & TALENT STRATEGY TRACK
MARKETING & TALENT STRATEGY TRACK
Learn how to bring products—and people—together. From identifying your market and building a brand to attracting, developing, and retaining talent, you’ll gain a fully integrated perspective. Through an AI-driven, semester-long simulation that mirrors real business environments, you’ll develop hands-on expertise in marketing, recruitment, and people strategy.
IS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE…
Looking to shape both markets and organizations—using their understanding of human behavior to build strong brands, attract the right talent, and create high-performing teams.
Looking for...
A practical, end-to-end view of how products and people come together, developing skills in marketing, recruitment, and talent development through real-world, AI-powered simulations that mirror today’s business environment.
To become a...
- People Consultant
- HR Specialist
- Recruitment Consultant
- Marketing Strategist
- Marketing Consultant
- Market Research Analyst
IE BUSINESS EXPERIMENTATION CLASS
IE BUSINESS EXPERIMENTATION CLASS
Discover IE University's Business Experimentation class, where students demonstrate how they apply behavior and social sciences to influence business outcomes. See how academia and industry come together to shape tomorrow's business leaders.
ACCREDITATIONS
IE Business School has been granted the prestigious “Triple Crown Accreditation” by the most highly respected business school accreditation associations. This honor is shared with a select few, with a mere 97 business schools worldwide (less than 1% of all business schools in the world) as of March 2020. The “Triple Crown Accreditation” certifies that the IE Business School's unique education model—based on innovative teaching methodologies and a commitment to breaking boundaries—is among the best in the world.
AACSB
AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools and less than 5% of the world's business programs have earned this prestigious accreditation. AACSB-accredited schools have the highest quality faculty, a relevant and challenging curriculum and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools.
EQUIS
EQUIS assesses institutions completely. It assesses not just degree programs but all the activities and units of the institution. This includes research, e-learning units, executive education provision and community outreach. To be accredited by EQUIS, institutions must be primarily devoted to management education. Institutions that are accredited by EQUIS must demonstrate not only high general quality in all dimensions of their activities, but also a high degree of internationalization.
AMBA
AMBA accreditation gives business schools international credibility and recognition. AMBA accreditation identifies programs as the best available. This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement in business education and is earned only by the best programs and business schools worldwide.
Faculty Stories
Our 500-strong faculty guides students to unleash their potential day in, day out. Their influence across all five Schools can’t be overstated, inspiring young, energetic minds as they define their personal and professional trajectories.
But what kind of person does it take to create such impact? The individuals that make up the IE University faculty are special. Coming from diverse, global backgrounds, they each bring distinct perspectives and innovative ideas that embody what makes IE University stand out. Their stories are personal and unique—but don’t take our word for it. Read their stories to see for yourself.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many years is the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences?
The Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences is a full-time, four-year program delivered in-person in Madrid, or Madrid and Segovia.
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Is the behavioral science major hard?
Like other degrees, it might be challenging but with dedication and hard work, it is certainly achievable.
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What subjects do you need to study behavioral science?
IE University’s Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences doesn’t require you to study specific subjects to join the program. However, a foundation in psychology, anthropology or sociology might be beneficial, as would at least a fundamental grasp of mathematics. Find out more about the admissions requirements here.
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What do you learn in the behavioral science concentration tracks?
The program offers several immersive concentration tracks that allow you to apply behavioral theory in real-world contexts. You can choose between the Human-Centered Consulting track and the Marketing & Talent Strategy track. Learn more about them here.
Like any degree, behavioral science can be challenging, but with dedication and hard work, it is certainly achievable.
Is this information helpful?